Why Do Field / Facility Owners Require To Be Named On Sports Insurance Policies?

Field / facility owners such as recreation departments, school districts, schools, and municipalities often allow outside user groups to use their premises under a lease or permit. These relationships are beneficial to all parties involved. However, field / facility owners expose themselves and their insurance carriers to liability arising from injuries that may occur on the premises arising out of the lease or permit. This is true even though the injury may be due to the 100% negligence of the outside user group.

Field / facility owners are almost always shot gunned into these lawsuits as a deep pocket even if they are 0% at fault. The defense costs and possibility of settlement or adverse jury verdict can be very expensive. This can result in unbudgeted out of pocket expenses (in event of self insurance or large deductible insurance program) or in a large loss that is paid by their insurance carrier. When these losses are paid by insurance carriers, such insurance carriers may non renew or may ask for large rate increases. Therefore, field / facility owners have a lot to lose when they make their premises available to outside user groups.

It makes sense that the group that is responsible for the injury and resulting lawsuit should be financially responsible for paying the damages. Therefore, prudent field / facility owners require outside users to carry their own insurance that meets certain minimum standards that are drafted by risk managers or attorneys employed by the field / facility owner.  Such insurance requirements specify the types of policies to be carried, minimum limits of coverage, and special coverage endorsements such as “Additional Insured” status for the premises owner.

Requiring outside user groups to be financially responsible for their own injuries and lawsuits is a good business practice. Even high limit insurance is surprisingly affordable and easy to obtain when reputable sports insurance and event insurance specialists are contacted.

Sadler Sports “Hottest Fitness Instructor” 2011

Sadler Sports & Recreation Insurance is pleased to announce the winners of the Facebook “Hottest Fitness Instructor” contest.  The winner was determined by the most “likes” and nominations from group members and other participants. 

GRAND PRIZE WINNER:

Congratulations to Jill Berardelli Vadala, Fredericksburg, VA!!!!  

Jill will receive a $50 American Express gift card.

Due to the great response from our Fitness Instructors we have also chosen a Runner-Up.

RUNNER-UP:

Rebekah Kirshke

Rebekah will receive a $25 American Express gift card. 

Thank you ladies and all the participants. We hope that you enjoyed the contest. We enjoyed reading the comments that others left for you as well.

Football: Concussion Risk Dangers Of Too Early Return

“The research team, headed by Dr. Barry Maron of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, analyzed information from the U.S. National Registry of Sudden Death in Young Athletes.”

“Football accounted for 57 percent of trauma-related sports deaths among young athletes, many of which could have been avoided if athletes with head injuries had been kept on the sidelines, according to researchers who sifted through 30 years of data.”

“Twelve percent of the 138 football deaths caused by head or neck injuries involved athletes who returned to the game after a concussion.  In some of these ‘second-impact syndrome’ deaths athletes were cleared for play despite symptoms from a previous head injury.”

“The study found that running back was the single most deadly position in football with 33 deaths in 30 years while 69 deaths occurred among defensive players.”

Source: Football Is Deadliest Sport For Young Athletes, Study Finds, Sporting Kid, Fall 2011, National Alliance For Youth Sports

Chartis Starts Educational Program On Sports Concussions

Chartis insurance has launched a new website to enhance public awareness on how to identify the warning signs of sports concussions and the proper response. Their website includes a number of good educational materials for coaches / athletic directors, parents / teachers, and athletes. The materials include fact sheet, clipboard sheet, tip sheet on baseline testing, tip sheet on signs and symptoms, concussion Q&A, etc.

According to Sadler Sports Insurance’s injury statistics, concussions account for about 5% of all reported injuries under youth tackle football Accident insurance. Due to the potentially catastrophic nature of concussions, this topic deserves long overdue attention.

Chartis is one of many Accident insurance carriers that Sadler Sports Insurance represents and makes available to it’s clients.

Information Link

Sadler Featured In Rough Notes August 2011 Article

John Sadler was featured in the August 2011 edition of Rough Notes article: Amateur Sports, Recreation Market Continues To Grow.  The article discusses common insurance risk and and management issues faced by Amateur and Sports Organizations including concussions, sex and molestation, volunteer embezzlement; etc.

The Difference Between Crime And Equipment Insurance For Sports Organizations

Some administrators who make the insurance purchasing decisions for sports organizations are confused over the difference between Crime Insurance and Equipment Insurance.  They mistakenly believe that theft of equipment by outsiders or vandalism of equipment is a “crime” and as a result covered by a Crime Policy.  This is not correct.

Here is an easy way to distinquish the two policies:

Equipment Insurance = Loss to Sports Equipment Due To Fire, Wind, Vandalism, Theft, Etc.

Crime Insurance = Employee / Volunteer Theft Of Equipment Or Embezzlement of Funds.

Of course, the above explanation is an over simplification, but it is an easy way to distinquish the two policies.